2012-2013 Catalogue

Requirements for the Master of Education Degree

The graduate program of each student admitted to candidacy for the degree of Master of Education is planned and supervised by an advisor in the respective program area. Program planning is based upon the student's undergraduate curriculum, professional experience, and aims and purposes in pursuing the master's degree. Before the degree is awarded, the candidate must have completed one year of successful teaching experience or other educational service. This requirement may be fulfilled by satisfactory completion of student teaching, an internship, or a practicum.

Each program must include a minimum of thirty approved credits (Higher Education and Student Affairs, forty; Interdisciplinary Studies, thirty-six). Contingent on a candidate's background and interests and on program specification, additional credits may be required. If a student's preparation is inadequate to begin study at the graduate level, additional undergraduate courses will be required. Normally, each Master of Education degree program must include a minimum of six semester hours of graduate work in the foundations of education unless this requirement or its equivalent has been met previously. Graduate courses which currently fulfill this requirement include: EDFS 204, EDFS 205, EDFS 206, EDFS 209, EDFS 255, EDFS 302, EDFS 303, EDFS 309, EDFS 314, EDFS 322, EDFS 347, EDFS 348, EDFS 352, EDFS 354, and EDFS 369, EDFS 377, EDFS 380.

To insure effective planning of a graduate program for the degree of Master of Education, no more than nine credits will be accepted in partial fulfillment of degree requirements for courses taken prior to acceptance to the Graduate College.

Comprehensive Examination

A comprehensive examination is required. However, it may be written, oral, or both. The choice of the examination format will be made by faculty members in the area of specialization after consultation with the advisor and the candidate.

The written comprehensive examination will cover the field of education with emphasis on the area of specialization.

The oral comprehensive examination will emphasize the area of specialization.

All examinations are taken on the university campus in Burlington. Only one re-examination is permitted for any final comprehensive examination. It is the responsibility of the candidate to schedule the required examination with the College of Education and Social Services. Since each program has different options for meeting the oral and written comprehensive requirements, candidates must contact the respective program chairperson or advisor regarding program policy.

Thesis Option

If the thesis option is elected, there must be an oral or written comprehensive examination prior to the oral examination in defense of the thesis.

Requirements for Admission to Graduate Studies for the Degree of Master of Education

Eighteen credits of Education and related areas or appropriate professional certification. The Education courses prerequisites may not apply to the Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration, Educational Leadership, or Interdisciplinary Major Program in the Department of Integrated Professional Studies. This is particularly true of persons seeking positions which do not require public school certification.

Minimum Degree Requirements

Eighteen credits in courses in Education numbered above 200, including a minimum of six graduate credits in the foundations of education,* twelve additional credits in approved courses or six additional credits and thesis research; a year of successful experience in teaching or in a related educational activity.

* This requirement no longer applies to the program in Special Education.